U.S. patent application number 10/450132 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-02 for article in the forms of a book with a frame.
Invention is credited to Campolmi, Stefano, Piomboni, Gabriella.
Application Number | 20040169365 10/450132 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32088960 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040169365 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Piomboni, Gabriella ; et
al. |
September 2, 2004 |
Article in the forms of a book with a frame
Abstract
The present invention relates to an article (1) in the form of a
book comprising a plurality of pages ordered and bound together;
the first page acts as the cover of the book and comprises a frame
(2) which defines a window (21); on a following page (4) of the
book is represented or applied or specifically applicable, in a
position aligned with the window (21) of the frame (2), a subject
(5) preferably artistic, flat or in relief; the subject (5) is
visible through the window (21) of the frame (2) when the book is
closed; this way the article (1) integrates both the function of a
book and the function of a framed artistic subject.
Inventors: |
Piomboni, Gabriella; (New
York, NY) ; Campolmi, Stefano; (Milano, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN & FINNEGAN, L.L.P.
345 PARK AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10154
US
|
Family ID: |
32088960 |
Appl. No.: |
10/450132 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
October 8, 2002 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IT02/00638 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
281/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42D 1/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
281/038 |
International
Class: |
B42D 001/00 |
Claims
1. Article (1) in the form of a book comprising of a plurality of
pages ordered and bound together, characterized in that the first
page acts as the cover of the book and consists essentially of a
frame (2) which defines its own window (21), in that on a following
page (4) of the book it is represented or applied or specifically
applicable, in a position aligned with the window (21) of the frame
(2), a subject (5) preferably artistic, flat or in relief, and in
that the subject (5) is visible through the window (21) of the
frame (2) when the book is closed.
2. Article according to claim 1, wherein a page of the book bound
between the first page (2) and the page (4) associated to said
subject (5), is substantially constituted by a passe-par-tout (3)
which defines its own window (31) aligned with the window (21) of
the frame (2), and wherein the subject (5) is visible also through
the window (31) of the passe-par-tout (3) when the book is
closed.
3. Article according to claim 1, wherein the page (4) associated to
said subject (5) comprises of a passe-par-tout which defines its
own window aligned with the window (21) of the frame (2), and
wherein the subject (5) is visible also through the window of the
passe-par-tout when the book is closed.
4. Article according to anyone of claims from 1 to 3, wherein in
correspondence of the entire window (21,31), the frame (2) and/or
the passe-par-tout (3) includes transparent material (22,32) in the
form of a pane.
5. Article according to anyone of claims from 1 to 3, comprising a
page (6) made of transparent material at least in correspondence of
the entire window (21,22) of the frame (2) and/or of the
passe-par-tout (3) bound in the book after the frame (2) or after
the passe-par-tout (3).
6. Article (1) in the form of a book comprising a plurality of
pages ordered and bound together, characterized in that the first
page acts as the cover of the book and comprises a frame (2) which
defines its own window (21), and characterized in that on a
following page (4) of the book is represented or applied or
specifically applicable, in a position aligned with the window (21)
of the frame (2), a subject (5) preferably artistic, flat or in
relief, and characterized in that the subject (5) is visible
through the window (21) of the frame (2) when the book is
closed.
7. Article according to claim 6, wherein the first page further
comprises of a passe-par-tout (3) which defines its own window (31)
aligned with the window (21) of the frame (2), the passe-par-tout
being placed under the frame (2), and wherein the subject (5) is
visible also through the window (31) of the passe-par-tout (3) when
the book is closed.
8. Article according to claim 7, wherein in correspondence of the
entire window (21,31), the frame (2) and/or the passe-par-tout (3)
includes transparent material (22,32) in the form of a pane.
9. Article according to claim 7, comprising a page (6) made of
transparent material at least in correspondence of the entire
window (21,31) of the frame (2) and/or of the passe-par-tout (3)
bound in the book after the frame (2) and after the passe-par-tout
(3).
10. Article according to one of the previous claims, wherein the
passe-par-tout (3) has a thickness comprised between about 1 mm and
about 1 cm so as to give a feeling of depth.
11. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein
said subject (5) is a painting, or a design, or a print or a
photographic image.
12. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein
said subject (5) is a photograph.
13. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein
said subject (5) is a stamp or a coin.
14. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein
said subject (5) is a lace or a piece of fabric.
15. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein
said subject (5) is a bas-relief or high-relief.
16. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the
content of the written pages (8) of the book is related to the
subject (5).
17. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, provided
with a device (9) adapted to, in a specific condition, to keep all
the pages closed together.
18. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, provided
with a device (10) adapted to light up said subject (5).
19. Article according to claim 18, wherein said lighting device
(10) is contained in the frame (2) or in the passe-par-tout
(3).
20. Article according anyone of the previous claims, provided with
a device adapted to generate sounds.
21. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, provided
with a device (11) adapted to hang the article on a wall.
22. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein all
or at least some of the pages are made of board.
23. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein at
least some of the pages are adapted to be written.
24. Article according to anyone of the previous claims, comprising
of a device adapted to contain a CD or a DVD or similar means
adapted to contain data and/or sounds and/or images.
Description
DESCRIPTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an article in the form of a
book comprising of a plurality of pages ordered and bound to each
other.
[0002] Framed pictures and books have always been well distinct and
separate articles: framed pictures are monolithic objects, to be
hung on a wall, to be used from a certain distance and in which the
visual aspect prevails; books are articles that are divided into
different components, to be handled, to be used in a near distance
and in which the intellectual aspect prevails.
[0003] The considerations made in relation to framed pictures are
valid also for other articles provided with a frame similar to that
of pictures.
[0004] It is the object of the present invention to combine said
articles, in particular a book and a framed picture.
[0005] Said combination has its own motivation typically if, for
example, the subject of the picture and the subject of the book are
the same or if they are related to each other: for example, an
image of an artist and the life of that artist or a painting by an
artist and the life of that artist and/or the description of that
painting.
[0006] In order to achieve this object, two considerations have
been made: the consideration that both the framed picture and the
book are objects substantially flat and the additional
consideration that both the component parts of a framed picture
(the frame, the passe-par-tout, the painting) and both the
components of a book (the cover, the pages) are objects
substantially flat.
[0007] Based on these considerations, we then can perceive that the
two articles can be not only combined, but also really integrated
modifying slightly both articles.
[0008] The combination and integration are achieved in the articles
in the form of a book having the features outlined in the
independent claim 1 or in the independent claim 6.
[0009] The articles according to the present invention maintain the
structure of a book (a plurality of pages ordered and bound
together) but the first pages simulate the structure of a framed
picture (frame, passe-par-tout, artistic subject) totally or
partially combined.
[0010] Advantageous aspects of the articles according to the
present invention are outlined in the dependent claims.
[0011] Some examples of embodiments of the present invention will
be outlined hereafter with the aid of the attached drawings, in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a schematic prospective view of an article
according to the present invention,
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view according to the plane A-A of
the article of FIG. 1,
[0014] FIG. 3 show a cross-section view of an example of a frame
page for an article according to the present invention,
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of another example of a
frame page for an article according to the present invention,
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section view of a first example of a
passe-par-tout page for an article according to the present
invention,
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of a second example of a
passe-par-tout page for an article according to the present
invention,
[0018] FIG. 7 shows a cross-section view of a third example of a
passe-par-tout page for an article according to the present
invention,
[0019] FIG. 8 shows a cross-section view of a fourth example of a
passe-par-tout page for an article according to the present
invention.
[0020] The article according to the present invention has
substantially the shape of a book and comprises a plurality of
pages ordered and bound together; the present invention is
independent of the type of binding used; among the binding types
normally used in the book (publishing) area we can mention: saddle
stitches, sewn signatures, spiral binding, paperback binding; the
examples shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 have both a paperback
binding.
[0021] In the article according to the present invention, the first
page acts as the cover of the book; the first page comprises or it
is constituted essentially by a frame; the frame defines its own
window; on a following page of the book it is represented or
applied or specifically applicable, in a position aligned with the
window of the frame, a subject preferably artistic, flat or in
relief; the subject is visible through the window of the frame when
the book is closed.
[0022] The article according to the present invention integrates
the functions of two different articles: an article with a frame
(typically a framed picture) and an article with bound pages
(typically a book); many can be the articles with a frame; many can
be also the articles with bound pages, for example: books strictly
for reading, illustrated books, activity books, coloring books,
etc.
[0023] As it will be better clarified further below, according to
the present invention, many are the subjects adapted to be shown
through the frame, either of substantially bi-dimensional or
three-dimensional type, and either of strict artistic type or
broader artistic type. Depending on the type of the subject, this
can be more advantageously represented (for example printed or
drawn) or applied (for example glued) or specifically applicable
(for example by inserting it in a pocket of transparent material or
by being imbedded in a niche). The position of the subject must
take into consideration the position of the window of the frame
both to make sure that the subject is visible through the window of
the frame when the book is closed and to give a pleasant esthetic
aspect (in some cases, for example it will be advisable to center
the subject in relation to the window of the frame); there is not
in any way the need to match the perimeter of the window with the
perimeter of the subject.
[0024] The present invention is independent, in general, from the
shape of the book, of the frame, of the window and of the subject;
among the various shapes we can mention for example: square,
rectangle, triangle, circle, and ellipse.
[0025] The frames that can be used for the article according to the
present invention can be very different: a certain frame can
resemble a traditional picture frame but can also resemble, for
example, the frame of a television screen or the frame of a home
window; a frame that can be used in the present invention can also
be a multiple type, that is to say subdivided in more squares each
surrounding a different subject or a different section of the same
subject.
[0026] As far as the dimensions are concerned, typical applications
of the present invention can have a vertical dimension
(correspondent to the bulk of the book) from 1 cm up to 2 cm and a
horizontal dimension from about 5 cm to 20 cm; however higher
dimensions are not to be excluded.
[0027] The present invention is also, in general, independent of
the material used for the various pages of the book and for the
subject; among the various materials we can mention, for example:
paper, board, wood, fabric, glass, metal, plastic; a plastic
material that could be used, in particular for articles according
to the present invention addressed to children, is EVA (Ethylene
Vinyl Acetate).
[0028] The present invention can include advantageously, but not
necessarily, a passe-par-tout behind the frame; the passe-par-tout
defines its own window aligned with the window of the frame and
such so that the subject is visible also through the window of the
passe-par-tout when the book is closed; the passe-par-tout can be
used to give a feeling of depth. The position of the window of the
passe-par-tout must take into consideration the position of the
window of the frame either to make sure that the subject is visible
through the window of the passe-par-tout when the book is closed
and to give a pleasant esthetic aspect (in some cases for example,
it will be advisable to center the subject in relation to the
passe-par-tout); there is not in any way the need to match the
perimeter of the window of the passe-par-tout with the perimeter of
the window of the frame: for example, in the framed pictures, the
passe-par-tout is often well visible behind the frame.
[0029] The considerations made above are also valid for the shape
and for the material of the passe-par-tout.
[0030] A good perception of depth is obtained when the
passe-par-tout has a thickness comprised between 1 mm and 1 cm
approximately; a higher thickness would certainly give a better
perception of depth, but would create binding problems.
[0031] The present invention can include advantageously but not
necessarily a transparent material in the form of a plate or pane
in correspondence of the entire window of the frame and/or of the
passe-par-tout; the transparent material can serve as protection of
the subject or to improve the esthetic aspect of the article.
Typically the transparent material used will be a kind of plastic
both for reasons of weight and fragility, as well as for reasons of
transparency; it is not excluded, however, that in some cases
another type of material could be used, glass for example.
[0032] The transparent material can constitute an entire book page;
or the transparent material can be applied (for example glued or
embedded) to the frame or to the passe-par-tout; or in addition,
the pane of transparent material can be integrated in the frame or
in the passe-par-tout.
[0033] According to the present invention, any or all the parts of
the article, the frame, the passe-par-tout, the pane of transparent
material, the page associated with the subject can be present in
the article and can be bound together in many different ways so as
to form one or more pages of the article, for example not
considering the pane of transparent material: (A) anyone of these
elements can constitute one single page, (B) the frame and the
passe-par-tout can be bound together so as to form one single page,
(C) the passe-par-tout and the page associated with the subject can
be bound together so as to form one single page, (D) the frame, the
passe-par-tout and the page associated with the subject can be
bound together so as to form one single page.
[0034] The example on FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 corresponds to the case in
which the first page is constituted essentially by the sole
frame.
[0035] In these figures, an article 1 in the form of a book
according to the present invention comprises a plurality of
distinct pages, ordered and bound together in a paperback form; the
first page acts as the cover of the book and it is essentially
constituted by a frame 2 which defines its own window 21; the
second page is essentially constituted by a passe-par-tout 3 which
defines its own window 31; the third page is constituted by a page
4 made of board with an artistic and substantially flat subject
applied over (in a very schematic way, a painting); these three
pages are followed (in this case) by four board and printed pages 8
which contain, among others, written text; at the end there is a
page 7 which acts as back cover. The article 1 is shown in the
figures in a closed position; in such a position, the subject 5 is
visible both through the window 21 of the frame 2 and through the
window 31 of the passe-par-tout 3.
[0036] In the article 1 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 according to the
present invention is not included any pane of transparent material;
this article however could be easily modified by inserting an
entire page of transparent material, for example, between the first
and second pages or gluing, for example, a pane of transparent
material to the passe-par-tout 3.
[0037] The subject 5 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 is a painting.
[0038] As a first option, the subject can be a drawing or a print
or a photographic image or something similar; part of this list are
also, for example, the image of a comic strip or cartoon character
and the image of a soccer player.
[0039] As a second option, the subject can be a photograph or
something similar.
[0040] As a third option, the subject can be a stamp or a coin or
something similar.
[0041] As a fourth option, the subject can be a lace or a piece of
fabric or something similar.
[0042] As a fifth option, the subject can be a bas-relief or a
high-relief or something similar.
[0043] Some of the subjects described above are artistic subjects
in a strict sense, others are artistic subjects in a broader sense,
other are not artistic at all.
[0044] The printed text on the pages 8 of the article 1 has a
content related to the subject 5; this aspect is one of the key
elements of the present invention.
[0045] Below are shown with the help of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, other
advantageous features of the present invention.
[0046] The article 1 can further include a device 11 to allow it to
be hung on a wall. Such device is, in the illustrated embodiment, a
ring, e.g., in triangular form, attached to the back page 7 via a
small mounting plate. In this way, the function of a framed picture
(or similar article) is more complete.
[0047] The article 1 can include a device 9 adapted, to, in a
specific condition, to keep all the pages closed together; in
particular it is a wrapper with a small tooth 16 to hook up with
page 7 which is the back cover; such a closing device is useful in
general, but it is particularly useful in combination with device
11: in fact, if the article 1 would be hung on a wall through
device 11 without device 9, the article would tend to open up with
the result that the frame 2 would not surround the subject 5 any
longer.
[0048] For better placement of article 1 when hung on a wall, a
thin strip 13 can be included as compensation for the depth of any
device 9 or 11 and further more it is preferable, but not
essential, that the strip 13, the tooth of the device 9 and the
plate of the device 11 be of the same thickness.
[0049] With a choice of device 9 and device 11 different from that
shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and having the same scope, it is
possible to advantageously avoid any protuberance from page 7 of
the back cover; in this case the ruler 13 becomes unnecessary.
[0050] The article 1 can comprise a device 10 adapted to light up
the subject 5; it is in particular made of two micro light bulbs or
two diodes of LED type (Light Emitting Diode) applied to the frame
2 on the top part of its window (when the article is hung) similar
to framed pictures in museums; in correspondence of the two light
bulbs it can be included, on the frame 2, a small screen 14 to
avoid the dazzling effect and also to better direct the light
towards the subject 5.
[0051] The lighting device can be made in many other ways and can
be positioned in other parts of the article; it can be included in
the frame 2 or in the passe-par-tout 3 or in neither one.
[0052] The article 1 shows a plate 15 on which in small letters it
is reproduced the name of the author of the painting similarly to
museums' framed pictures; naturally other additional information
can be added to it.
[0053] The article 1 could also include a device adapted to
reproduce sounds. Sounds can be music and/or voices and/or noise.
The sound device can be, for example, an electronic system to
record sounds, or a device to reproduce sounds and a device to emit
sounds.
[0054] Both the lighting device and the sound device are electrical
devices and they need electric power; in the case of an article
according to the present invention, the only source of energy
practically usable and with a limited cost are batteries; in the
article 1 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 it is included a space 12 created on
the page 7 of the back cover adapted to contain two batteries of
the flat type. The batteries, or more in general, the devices for
electric power production can also be positioned elsewhere.
[0055] Both the lighting device and sound device, when present in
the article 1, need of a device which will turn on the light
feature and the sound feature respectively; there are many
practical options; the simplest option is constituted by a switch
that can be operated manually; a more complex option is a switch
that will turn on and off with the opening and closing of the
book.
[0056] The article 1 could also have a device adapted to contain a
CD or a DVD or a similar memory tool adapted to contain data and/or
sound and/or images; such a device could be, for example, a pocket
applied or created on the page 7 of the back cover. Also in this
case there will advantageously be a correlation between the
subject, the content of the text and the content of the CD or
DVD.
[0057] As far as the types of materials, we have already said that
there is ample choice; in a typical embodiment as the one of FIG. 1
and of FIG. 2, all the pages of the article 1 are made of board,
but have different thickness; in particular the pages 8 are made of
board and are all the same.
[0058] As we can understand from these figures, the article 1 not
only can be hung on a wall, not only can be placed flat on its back
cover, but it can also be placed standing up in perfect balance on
the bottom side thanks to the thickness of its pages. The article
according to the present invention does not exclude any other
options of support already known in the field of the articles with
bound pages or in the field of the articles in frames.
[0059] Some, or all the pages of the article according to the
present invention can be adapted to be written; the material that
can be used in this case is typically paper.
[0060] Below are illustrated, with the help of the figures, the
structures of some samples of frames and passe-par-tout adapted to
this invention.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a simple frame 2 with its own window 21.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a frame 2 with a border built in a step like
manner; in one of the steps is inserted a pane 22 of transparent
material.
[0063] FIG. 5 shows a simple passe-par-tout 3 with its own window
31; it is also shown a pane 6 of transparent material separate from
the passe-par-tout 3; as an alternative, this could be also glued
to the passe-par-tout 3 and therefore could become a single page of
the article.
[0064] FIG. 6 shows a passe-par-tout 3 built in a step like manner;
in one of the steps is inserted a pane 32 of transparent
material.
[0065] FIG. 7 shows a passe-par-tout 3 formed by a lower plate 33
(provided with a window) with a pane 32 of transparent material
applied over, an additional upper plate 34 (provided with a window)
is applied over to secure pane 32 to plate 33.
[0066] FIG. 8 shows a passe-par-tout 3 made of a thick pane of
transparent material; in correspondence of the perimeter area of
the top surface of the passe-par-tout 3 ink 35 has been applied;
the inked surface defines the window 31 of the passe-par-tout.
* * * * *